Chery Automobile to open UK R&D center at UTAC Millbrook

Chery Automobile has announced the establishment of a new R&D Centre of Excellence at UTAC Millbrook in the United Kingdom. Scheduled to open in late autumn 2026, the facility will focus on chassis dynamics and the tuning and calibration of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) specifically for UK-specification vehicles.

The center aims to adapt vehicle performance to local road conditions, such as narrow lanes, roundabouts, and high traffic density, while addressing consumer preferences for responsive steering and suspension. The engineering teams will utilize UTAC Millbrook’s extensive infrastructure, including over 70km of specialized test tracks, battery testing laboratories, and autonomous vehicle testing capabilities.

This move follows a 2024 homologation joint venture between Chery and the UTAC Group. The company also utilizes the Linas-Montlhéry facility in France for safety testing and homologation. According to Gary Lan, CEO of Chery International UK, the center represents a long-term investment intended to integrate UK customer insights into Chery’s wider global R&D activities.